Free Online Meditation Timer

How to use

1. 1

   Choose a duration. Pick 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes, or type a custom duration up to 120 minutes.

2. 2

   Pick a bell. Choose Singing bowl, Bell or Chime. Each one previews when you tap it.

3. 3

   Set interval bells (optional). Turn on interval bells — every 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 or 15 minutes — for gentle markers during your sit.

4. 4

   Press Begin. A ten-second preparation lets you settle. The start bell rings, and the timer begins counting down.

5. 5

   Sit until the bell. Close your eyes and bring attention to the breath. The end bell rings when the time is up.

Why a timer helps a meditation practice

A timer removes the question most distracting to a meditator: how long has it been? Without one, the temptation to peek at a clock pulls you out of whatever you were settling into. With one, the bell handles it. You sit, and when the bell rings you are done. The decision was made before you started, and the timer holds you to it.

Consistency matters more than length. Ten minutes every morning is a practice; forty-five minutes once a week is an event. A timer with presets makes the short session easy to start. Pick ten, press Begin, and the rest is not a decision. Over time the five-minute sits turn into ten, and the ten into twenty, not because a schedule says so but because you stop wanting to leave.

Bells: start, interval, and end

The timer rings a bell at the start and again at the end. The start bell marks the moment your preparation is over and the sit begins. The end bell is the only interruption. Choose from three sounds: a Tibetan singing bowl with slow inharmonic overtones, a clear bell with a fast strike, or a lighter two-note chime. Each one previews when you select it in the settings.

Interval bells are optional. If you set one — every five minutes, say — a quieter bell rings at those marks without stopping the timer. Some practitioners find this useful in longer sits: the gentle sound is a chance to notice if the mind has wandered without ending the session. Others prefer silence from start to finish. The default is off.

Mindfulness bell mode

The mindfulness bell tab is a simpler tool. There is no countdown and no end. You choose an interval — every three minutes, every ten, every twenty — and the bell rings at that interval for as long as you leave the page open. A random option varies the timing by up to fifty percent, so the bell arrives when you are not expecting it.

This is the practice of using a bell as a reminder to pause and breathe, right in the middle of whatever you are doing. You can use it during a seated sit, during a walk, or while working at your desk. Press Stop when you are ready to finish, and the page shows how long you sat.

Sitting with a timer

Find a seat you can hold for the length you chose. Sit on a cushion, a chair, or the floor. Posture matters less than comfort: if your knee hurts at minute three, you will spend minutes four through ten thinking about your knee. Press Begin, close your eyes after the start bell, and bring your attention to the breath. When the mind wanders — it will — notice that it wandered and bring it back. That is the whole practice.

The ambient sound is there if you want it. Rain or ocean can soften a noisy room, and white noise evens out sounds that would otherwise pull your attention. Set the volume low enough that you stop hearing it after the first minute. Press F for full screen so nothing else on the monitor competes with the quiet. And if you are new to this, start with five minutes. You can always sit longer tomorrow.

Link parameters

Every setting travels in the address bar, so a link can open the timer already set up.

Frequently Asked Questions